PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies, those big bad bullies of the East Coast, those defending champions, seemed intent on putting a big hurt on the little team from the Mountain time zone.
More than 45,000 Philly fans were roaring at the first pitch, but Garrett Atkins shut them up in a hurry, and the Rockies rolled to an 8-3 victory. It was their fifth straight win.
A road trip that started with three straight losses in New York to the Mets now looks like a golden opportunity. The victory was the Rockies’ 32nd on the road this season — one more road win than they had all last season.
Atkins, supplanted as the everyday third baseman by Ian Stewart, has had a taxing season. In the words of manager Jim Tracy, “it’s been a roller-coaster ride.” But Atkins, getting the start against lefty Jamie Moyer, put the Rockies in front 2-0 in the second. Ryan Spilborghs set the stage with a single off the 46-year-old Moyer. Atkins, a .317 hitter at Citizens Bank Park, promptly lined Moyer’s 0-2 pitch into the left-field seats for a two-run blast, his seventh homer of the season.
Atkins wasn’t finished. He roped a two-run double off reliever Rodrigo Lopez (the former Rockie) in Colorado’s four-run sixth inning. Atkins finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs, the most runs he’s driven in since plating five at San Diego on Aug. 29, 2008.
“Garrett’s been nothing but a true professional,” Tracy said prior to Tuesday’s game. “He’s been up and down, but he has never stopped working.”
The Rockies also received a much-needed comeback performance from starter Jason Hammel.
To be blunt, Hammel has not been a very good pitcher of late. He had not won a game since June 26, and was 0-3 with a 5.76 ERA in July. Last week in New York, he got the hook after just 1 1/3 innings.
But the grit he displayed Tuesday night was a sign that he might not be the weak link in the rotation after all. Hammel pitched 6 2/3 innings, and although he allowed three runs on nine hits, he didn’t walk a batter. He stuck out six, including striking out the side in the fourth.
Hammel’s moment of truth arrived in the third with the Rockies holding a 2-0 lead. With two outs and the bases loaded, Ryan Howard, the Phillies’ menacing slugger, worked the count to 3-2. Hammel whiffed Howard, and shut up the roaring Philly fanatics, with an 85 mph slider.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
